THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1919. EDITORIAL NOTES.

Otaki Mail, 3 February 1919, Page 2

THE OTAKI MAIL. Published on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1919. EDITORIAL NOTES.

A Fitting War Memorial. '* The Christchurch newspapers are tie- i voting considerable space to a discussion of proposals for lifting war memor- j ials. The columns of the press of the “City of the Plains' ’ have for some time past been flooded with letters on ; this subject, many of the suggestions j being excellent, and as a result con- j siderablc public interest has been I aroused on the subject. The “Sun” j offers cash prizes for the best suggesi lions put forward, with the object of [ stimulating. interest in the matter, i Many of the suggestions made are of a j I provincial character, but others are ! more far-reaching. One idea that has created much interest, and lias been favourably commented on editorially in the “Press” and other papers, is' a scheme propounded by Mr 8. Hurst Seager at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Institute of Architects at Wellington recently. Briefly, this scheme is that a first-class concrete road—a “King’s highway” should bo formed from Auckland to the Bluff, with commemorative milestones. Speak : ing on the subject, Mi Seager says: — “It enables the State, the County Councils', Road Boards, Municipalities, 1 Townships, and individuals to join in forming a, grand memorial in all parts of the Dominion. It would be the duty of the State to lay a first-class concrete road, which shall, in fact, be a ‘King’s Highway/ from Auckland to the Bluff. The. idea of a, memorial roadway is not now; a grand .memorial road (of which particulars will be-given at the Town Planning Conference) has been formed in Victoria. Whatever amount is spent. | on the proposed road will be amply rc- | paid by the facilities afforded for traffic j and the enormous saving effected in the ! cost of haulage. Thus, and tints only, ! is it a work of utility. But the utiliI tarian aspect of the scheme is overshadowed by reason of the monuments to be erected'along the route. Tho road i would pass'- through some of the most ! beautiful scenery of the Dominion. I Here nothing more would be rccpiirod | than perhaps on some prominent bluff a j single memorial such as hits been erecti cd to Bir John MacKenzic of Oantartt. but at the level parts of the road, and ! at the entrance to the towns and cities, art must be combined with Nature; ! for instance, commemorative milestones along the roads, and columns

and arches forming the entrances to (lie cities and towns. On these might he inscribed a roll of honour to those citizens who • have fallen. Throughout the length of the road, at a distance of some miles apart, should be formed selfcontained garden cities on town-plan-ning lines, formed not only as a repatriation scheme, but also as a means ■of increasing the productivity of the country. Here small farms, agricultural holdings, together with all village industries, should be formed, with electric power, good water supply, and all the amenities which are usually looked for, and only to be obtained in city life; This scheme would not only enable all the organisations along the route to take their part, but each individual and all the school children should be encouraged to do what they can to adorn the route with shrubs, trees, and flowers. I can think of no better way of expressing our thankfulness for the successful termination of the great fight iu the cause of freedom’' This bold scheme is one that will undoubtedly find much support —it appeals to the imagination, and, at the same time, has a great utilitarian significanee. The whole scheme, as outlined by the promoter, is an enormous tno, but, even if it cannot be carried put in its entirety, would prove a magnificent memorial if only undertaken in parr.

Noxious >• •*' ' T Weeds. Year after year we have agitated for drastic steps to be taken io stop the spread of noxious "n eeds in this district., but our appeals have fallen on deaf eats. A few years ago the Horowhenua district tvas little troubled by the more objectionable noxious weeds, hut each, year the weeds are spreading —unchecked, in most instances —and unless drastic steps are taken soon, many acres of most valuable land will be spoile-d, and the trouble will be increasingly serious. We well remember when ragwort was piactically unknown in this district, yet now its yellow fiowers are to be seen in thousands in many directions. The same applies to other plants which appear ■ on the schedule of noxious weeds for this district. Blackberry is flourishing ia -many parts, foxglove is getting a good hold in some places, we have seen paddocks white with ox-eye daisy, and other weeds of a harmful nature are (retting a hold on paddocks hitherto clean. This matter is really a most serious one, and we once again urge the various local bodies in the district to make strong representations to the Department of Agriculture on the matter, and take such other steps as may be necessary to cheek the spread of noxious weds. We would also suggest that this matter might well be taken up by the Fanners’ Union.

Germans Undeceived. ITtity evidences have been furnished by German prisoners of the misconception'they have had of the British people. The German people have been taaght to hate the Britishers, that hatred being fostered by fabrication.-. .>«'to the -character of the despised. Englishmen. ■ Ah example .of »rjus-has just been brought under our notice. Hr If. U. Ayrc. our local Town Ck-rk. has just received from his eldest son, Private W. Ayre, a letter, written by a German prisoner in England to a friend in Gerniaxyy. Tallowing La a translation of.

the letter, which was written in the' German language:—"My Dear Gertrude, —Out of his exile your Herman > sends the best of greetings. .So far, I j have been very well, and everything ( goes well with me. AH I -miss is the ‘ old home. The English are a very fine people.. I was much surprised, as I, supposed that one would starve to ■death there—that you would have cause sorrow for your imprisoned one. I beg you, should you have the opportunity of meeting any Englishmen in the military hospital, to nurse them well, and to treat them kindly. I wish ; you a merry Christmas and a happy : New Year. With loving greetings I from yours, etc.. Herman.” The full 1 address of the writer is given as j "Landsturmer Herman Cambeis, F.Z., Prisoners of War Company, G.P.0., London.” There can be no doubt that many Germans are being undeceived as to their opinions of the British people, and testimonies such as the above should go far to break down that intense hatred that the Germans have for the British. It was largely on account of this false opinion of our nation, purposely fostered by the Gorman militarist party, that the German people were so ready to stfed their blood and make great sacrifices in order to humble the despised British nation.